The Journey Is More Important Than The Destination

I’m sure this is a famous quote by someone important, but I have no idea who.  We’ve all heard “Success is a journey not a destination”; this is just another twist on that statement.

Back in December a friend of mine who runs a middle-school robotics program posted on Facebook that one of the parents called for a “do over” in a competition.  As a parent who has been involved with middle-school and high school robotics for over seven years, the line “the journey is more important than the destination” came to me and led me to craft a response based on that principle. It was well received by those who understand the program.  Still stunned a parent would do that.

The robotics program, FIRST, is about so much more than the robot. It’s about shipping, and learning, and frustration. Each season I’ve been involved as a parent, coach, or mentor, I’ve been excited to watch young people grow right in front of me.

Last week, when Seth and Winnie posted about the Your Turn Challenge I was excited. I’ve blogged in the past, more as a personal journal than anything else, and had just posted in my blog for the first time in nearly a year (Over three years since regularly posting.)  But as Monday crept up, I started thinking, I have some meetings this week, I’ll be too busy, and so on.  However, Seth’s message of shipping kept echoing in my head.

As the day went on, I started reading posts that others had done, and was stunned. My lizard brain kicked in, “I can’t do that.”  “What do I have to say that others will want to read?” I had the title for the post in my head, but the lizard was strong. So strong I tweeted saying I wasn't sure I could do it.

 

Thankfully, within 7 minutes, someone I don’t know encouraged me to do it anyways. Minutes later other chimed in. Collectively within 30 minutes they helped me kick the lizard brain to the curb.

Personally, I’m not sure where my journey will take me. I just finished my Bachelor’s degree, a mere thirty years after I started. Where the destination is, I have no clue.  I just keep hearing President Jeb Bartlett from West Wing saying “What’s next?”